PONE-D-20-33101

Occupational exposures and exacerbations of asthma and COPD – a general population study

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Skaaby,

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Davor Plavec, MD, MSc, PhD, Prof.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments:

Please provide revisions and/or explanations for the points suggested by the reviewer.

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Thank you for the opportunity to review this paper. It is very well written, and it addresses the very important topic. The authors have invested a lot of knowledge and attention to the matter. This results will contribute to the growing knowledge in the field.

There are just a few issues I would like to encourage the authors to address:

1. Describe, in general, the questionnaire used.

2. In general, Methods section needs some additional information to be more comprehensible. Lines 61-62 – at which point was this measured? „Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and FVC were measured at study inclusion and 62 repeated three times with the participant in a standing position.“ It’s unclear whether the authors have done it (i.e. approached these respondents and performed spirometry) or was it a question in questionnaire). If the respondents were approached, describe how did you approach the respondents and where did the examinations take place.

3. A flowchart of the procedure would be out most helpful to the readers. What came first? Census – cohort study –Which occupations – the exposed group – ACEJEM / OAsJEM – statistical analysis… etc.

4. Discussion –your angle on “the large decrease in most occupational inhalant exposures since the 1970s (40) combined with more safety equipment”… is sound and interesting. Please provide a short further explanation about PPE and other preventive measures in this subgroup (exposed to hazards). Which technical procedures and PPE are mandatory in Denmark regarding the selected hazards in your study? Were the data on PPE included in the questionnaire?

5. Reference 50 – seems to be incomplete

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Reviewer #1: No

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Occupational exposures and exacerbations of asthma and COPD – a general population study

PONE-D-20-33101R1

Dear Dr. Skaaby,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Davor Plavec, MD, MSc, PhD, Prof.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

With the revisions made the manuscript is ready for publication.

Reviewers' comments: